DAN CEARNS, The Standard
DURHAM: After a selection process which took over two and a half years to complete, the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) has found its next Chief of Police.
In a press release, sent out on Thursday, March 2nd, the Durham Regional Police Services Board announced, Peter Moreira, a current Toronto Police Service Staff Superintendent, has been chosen to lead the Durham Regional Police Service.
“I am honoured to have been chosen by the Board to serve as the next Chief of the Durham Regional Police Service,” read a statement from Mr. Moreira. “I have lived in this Region for my entire life, and it is a dream come true to be able to offer my experiences and skills as its Chief of Police. I appreciate the importance of the role I am privileged to assume, and I embrace the challenge with humility and eagerness. I am especially committed to working with all members of the DRPS to make sure they feel proud to come to work, knowing they are providing policing services to our community [which] are the best in the Province and the country.”
The search began for a new police chief in 2020, following the resignation of previous Chief Paul Martin.
At the time, in a statement, Chief Martin noted, there has “not been a more difficult time to be a police officer in the community” than 2020, and added, “every Canadian has a role to play in this journey to evolve communities and community safety in Canada.”
“I am cognizant of the strides [which] we have made over the years. We have seen the style of policing shift, from one based on remediation to one based on prevention, from a focus on community protection to community building. There was a time in policing where officers and leaders all looked like me, and though change has been slow in this regard, it has been made,” he also added in the statement.
Once Chief Paul Martin stepped down from the position Todd Rollauer was then appointed as interim chief, while the service searched for their permanent leader. Chief Rollauer is expected to retire later this month.
The press release states, the services board feels Chief Rollauer “served in the role of Chief of Police for the last two and half years with outstanding capability and integrity” and praises how he “provided stability and strength during a challenging period for the DRPS and the policing profession.”
Chief Designate Moreira will officially take the job in a ‘Change of Command ceremony’ at the Deer Creek Banquet Facility in Ajax, on March 24th.
“Chief Designate Moreira is an exemplary police leader, and his experience and skill-set reflect, precisely, the competencies the Board prioritized in its next Chief of Police,” Police Services Board Chair Shaun Collier stated in a press release.